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Kranjcar excels in new role

Paul Hart believes that people are now seeing the best of Niko Kranjcar after a return to his favoured position.

By Richard Bailey

Last Updated: 17/03/09 5:59pm

Paul Hart believes that people are now seeing the best of Niko Kranjcar after a return to his favoured position.

In the last few games the Pompey interim manager has deployed the Croatian international in the hole behind the striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

The 24-year-old has often been used as a winger during his two and a half years at Fratton Park but a mixture of injuries and loss of form has seen the former Dinamo Zagreb star struggle this season as the team battle it out at the bottom.

But Hart is confident Kranjcar can rediscover his top form and play an instrumental part in helping the club survive the drop.

"Niko looks tremendous at the moment, I thought he ran the show on Saturday. The quality on the ball and in those little holes was immense," he told The News.

"We always knew the boy could play and this is his favourite position. Really if you look at it, it's a 4-3-3 system with a slightly defensive edge.

Express himself

"We have concentrated on the defensive side of it, but knowing he can express himself given time and space.

"It's possible we may change the system depending on personnel and opposition, but Niko's certainly looked a very good player there.

"He's enjoying the freedom but he is doing a shift the other way as well. In that hole is where he likes playing.

"It fits into our strategy and it's been good for everybody. We've not been short of creativity.

"We are banging on about defensive responsibility but we can play as well and Niko can help us do that."

The former Nottingham Forest boss and his assistant Brian Kidd have guided the team to just one defeat - against Chelsea - in the four games since they took over, halting a run of three straight league defeats in the process.

Hart puts it down to simply playing players in their favourite roles, with only David Nugent playing out of position on the right hand side.

"We have tried to put round pegs in round holes. There are 10 people playing in their right positions and only one, David, has been slightly out of position." he added.